Cinque Terre in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Cinque Terre is a National Park that is home to five of Italy's most beautiful villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. These jewels are located in the province of Liguria and are known for their picturesque and colourful little houses perched on steep cliffs by the sea, their magnificent scenery and the footpaths that connect the various towns. If you are considering how long to go, three days is the ideal time.

The most common, and also the most comfortable, way to travel around the five towns that make up Cinque Terre is by train, as all the towns, with the exception of Corniglia, have a station close to the historic centre and the journey time between them is minimal. If you choose to travel by train, it is best to take Trenitalia's Cinque Terre Express, which allows you to take as many trains as you need in a day.

Due to the high prices of accommodation in Cinque Terre, many tourists choose to stay in La Spezia, although you can also find a wide range of hotels in Monterosso. However, trains run quite frequently so you won't have any problems getting around the Ligurian coast.

Now, for your first day, I have prepared an itinerary that starts in Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre and ends in Vernazza, considered by many the most beautiful of the five.

Discover Monterosso al Mare, the largest town in Cinque Terre

In addition to being the most populated of the five towns, Monterosso is home to the largest beach in Cinque Terre. Divided into a public and a private area, this beach with crystal clear waters is perfect for swimming and cooling off if you travel to Cinque Terre during the summer.

Monterosso al Mare is made up of two areas separated by a hill under which there is a tunnel that keeps them connected. In one of these areas you will find the charming historic centre and the harbour, which are worth a stroll, and in the other you will find the train station and the most famous beach, Fegina beach.

Despite being the largest town, it is possible to get around Monterosso in little more than an hour, so if the weather is nice you will have time to relax on the beach or even do some water sports. Don't forget to visit its main monuments such as the Church of San Francesco, the Church of San Giovanni Battista or the Villa Montale.

Head to your next destination, Vernazza

Once you have finished your visit to Monterosso, your next stop is the charming village of Vernazza. There are several options for getting there, including following the footpath that links the two towns. However, this part of the route can be a bit tough, so if you are not used to this kind of activities, I recommend you to take another means of transport.

A fun way to get around is by boat, as the views of the villages from the sea are spectacular. However, it is less economical than the train and may not be particularly pleasant if you are travelling to Cinque Terre in winter.

If you take the train, you will find that just a few metres from the station is the main street of Vernazza, where there is a wide range of shops and restaurants, and the central square with the famous Church of Santa Margherita. Vernazza is particularly noted for its seaside atmosphere, quaint colourful houses and narrow, sloping streets. Once there, I recommend a pleasant stroll through the old town centre on foot.

Take a break to taste the local gastronomy

After a long morning of walking, what better plan than to take a break to enjoy the exquisite dishes of this Italian region? So I recommend that you choose one of the magnificent restaurants in the central square and take the opportunity to try some of the local cuisine.

One of the most typical dishes in Liguria is the delicious trofie, a type of elongated, intertwined pasta usually served with Genovese pesto. It is also common in this area to find various pasta dishes accompanied by seafood or fish, such as the famous spaghetti ai frutti di mari.

But if you are interested in learning more about the cuisine of the area, don't hesitate to book a gastronomic tour of Cinque Terre, where an expert will accompany you during the tour and tell you the secrets of this spectacular corner of Italy.

Continue your walk and climb up to a very special viewpoint.

Once you have finished your lunch, you can walk to the port of Vernazza, one of the most outstanding in all of Cinque Terre, and take a stroll along the seashore or take some very striking photos. Next to the harbour is a small pebble beach where you can swim or sunbathe.

Next, I recommend that you make a small effort and climb up to what is considered to be one of the best viewpoints in Vernazza. To get there, start from the central square and go up the stairs in front of the church, at the base of which you will find a signpost indicating the beginning of the path to Monterosso.

You will have to follow the signs for this path and continue along it for a short stretch. You will be at the top in less than 15 minutes and I assure you that the views will be well worth the effort. Please note that in order to access many of the trails you will need to show your Cinque Terre Card.

End the day watching the sunset from the Doria Castle

A visit to the Doria Castle is a must if you decide to visit Vernazza. This imposing fortress once stood guarding the town on a small crag, unfortunately, today only one tower remains standing and can be visited for around €2.

From this point the views of the town are spectacular and if time permits, I strongly advise you to wait to see the sunset, as I assure you it will be an experience you will not forget.

As you can see Cinque Terre has a lot to offer. For your second day in Cinque Terre I have prepared an itinerary that passes through the three towns you still have to visit: Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia.

Start the day in the highest village of Cinque Terre, Corniglia

Although the town of Corniglia sometimes goes unnoticed compared to the rest of the villages that make up Cinque Terre, the magnificent views from the top of the hill that hosts this small town will make it worth your time to visit it.

Corniglia is the only town in Cinque Terre that does not have access to the sea and it is the smallest of them all. However, an advantage of some travellers choosing to skip this point is that the town is much quieter than the others, making it an ideal place to enjoy the calm and stroll around without the crowds of tourists.

If you decide to arrive by train you should be prepared for the Scalinata Lardarina, a staircase with almost 400 steps that takes you from the station to the historic centre. This picturesque village is located at the top of a mountain, some 90 metres above sea level. The views from the top are unbeatable. Another option if you are not convinced by the idea of climbing the endless stairs is to take a minibus, which is included in the Cinque Terre Card. Some of the monuments you can visit in Corniglia are the Church of San Pietro or the Church of Santa Caterina.

Visit Manarola, the next stop on your tour

Once you have explored the town of Corniglia, which should take you no more than an hour, you can return to the train station and head towards your next destination, Manarola. Manarola is one of the most beautiful and well-known villages in Cinque Terre and is particularly striking for its fantastic architecture, with its colourful houses set among the rocks, its magnificent views and its stone beaches and cliffs.

Once there, I recommend that you walk around Manarola and lose yourself in the explosion of colours of its narrow streets. Going down to the port, you will also find a natural balcony where the views of the town are spectacular and perfect to take some pictures.

If it is open during the season of your trip, I recommend you to go to the restaurant with the best views in Manarola, the Nessun Dorma, where you can enjoy a good wine and a typical Italian aperitif, such as bruschettas. But if you are really passionate about wine, don't hesitate to book a wine tasting in Manarola. Finally, don't forget to walk along Via di Mezzo, the main street. There, you will find many local craft shops and restaurants where you can buy a delicious focaccia for lunch.

Stroll along the famous Via dell'Amore

The next and last stop of the day is the charming village of Riomaggiore. However, to get there I recommend that you take a very special road. As mentioned above, one of the attractions of Cinque Terre is its famous trails. In particular, the most famous of all, the Sentiero Azzurro, or "blue trail", is a path along the sea that links all the villages.

If you are a hiking enthusiast, you have the option of consulting the official Cinque Terre trails website and follow the itinerary by changing trains for this walking route. However, I am going to make special emphasis on one of its sections, known as the Path of Love.

The Path of Love, or Via dell'Amore, is the section that connects Manarola with Riomaggiore and is one of the most popular routes both for its beauty and for being the easiest to walk.

Discover Riomaggiore, the last of the villages that make up the Cinque Terre

After less than half an hour's walk, you will reach Riomaggiore. This Cinque Terre town has a charming historic centre and, like some of the other neighbouring villages, is made up of colourful little houses perched on a rock formation.

One of the highlights of Riomaggiore is its picturesque quay, from where you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of both the harbour and the crystal clear waters of the sea. Other main attractions are the Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Riomaggiore Castle, which is located on the highest part of the village.

If you are spending the night in or around Cinque Terre, I recommend you take the opportunity to see the magnificent sunset from its small cove, or go for a more original option and book a sunset boat trip.

If you are travelling to Cinque Terre for two days or touring Cinque Terre in one day, it is best to focus on visiting the five towns so as not to miss anything, however, since your stay is slightly longer, you have the opportunity to take the opportunity to take an excursion and get to know a little more of the beautiful region of Liguria.

Enjoy your visit to Portovenere

To get to Portovenere you have several different options depending on where you start from. The first is by public transport. If you are staying in La Spezia, you can take a bus directly to Portovenere. If, on the other hand, you are staying in one of the towns that make up Cinque Terre, you can either take a direct ferry or change at La Spezia.

However, if you are up for a good hike, a fun way to get to Portovenere would be to book an excursion with a local guide along the local trails starting from Riomaggiore.

Once there, you can enjoy walking the streets of this small fishing village that is located in the Gulf of Poets. Like the previous towns, Portovenere lies parallel to the sea and is populated by the characteristic colourful little houses of this part of Italy. Some of its main attractions are the harbour, Byron's Cave and the Church of San Pietro. I also recommend a stroll along Via Capellini, which is the heart of the town and where you can find a wide variety of restaurants.

End your trip with a last stroll and a pleasant dinner

If you are not too tired after your trip to Portovenere, one option for your last night is to take a stroll in La Spezia, which is only half an hour away by bus.

Some of the activities to do in La Spezia include a stroll around the port, a walk across the Thaon di Revel Bridge, a visit to its most emblematic squares, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Europa, a visit to its Cathedral or, if you have time, the imposing Medieval Castle of San Giorgio. In addition, in its historic centre you can find a wide range of bars and restaurants to enjoy a fantastic last dinner in Liguria.

If, on the other hand, you are staying in one of the towns in Cinque Terre, you can spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around, watching the sunset over the sea and saying goodbye to the gastronomic delights of the area.